Put on those pretty high heels and Walk A Mile in Her Shoes

There is an old saying: “You can’t really understand another person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.”

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes asks men to literally walk 1-mile in women’s high-heeled shoes. It’s not easy walking in these shoes, but it’s fun and it gets the community to talk about something that’s really difficult to talk about: domestic and sexual violence.

This event is not just for men and boys. Everyone is invited and welcome to join us as we proudly proclaim: “NO MORE! – Not in our community, not in our society!”

Walk as an individual, join a team or start your own team. This year’s event will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at White Park.

The walk begins at 5:30 p.m. with registration starting at 4:30 p.m. Walk-in registrants are welcome. Registration fees are $35 for adults, youth 18 and under are $10 and kids 5 and under are free. Advanced registration is encouraged by visiting firstgiving.com/crisiscenterofcentralnh.

Refreshments will be available for purchase. Prizes include Biggest Team, Best Shoes and the Fleischman Award.

All proceeds from W.A.M. 2015 support the Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire to benefit women, men and children affected by domestic and sexual violence in Merrimack County. Last year, over 250 participants came out in the rain and raised over $25,000.

For more information, visit cccnh.org.

In the meantime, here are six of the men who will Walk a Mile in Her Shoes.

Kevin Flynn

What team are you on?

Stilettos on the Side of Love

Why are you walking?

I’m walking because I know people who have been in a tough situation. Walking in high heel shoes might seem like a funny, clumsy thing for a man to do. And it is. But it’s also a reminder that men don’t really understand the challenges of being a woman. Men rarely have to worry about coming home to a violent partner. They rarely have to worry about escaping someone who won’t let them leave. While I will have fun doing the walk, I will use the time to reflect on how little I know about the potential dangers women live with.

What are you wearing?

Rob (Fleischman) and I have matching red pumps.

Rob Fleischman

What team are you on?

Stilettos on the Side of Love

Why are you walking?

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out who is perpetrating most domestic violence. It is men. Not all men, but, far too many men. It would be comforting to think that you could pick them out of a line-up, but you can’t. They are from all social backgrounds and of all colors and ages. I walk because many women do not feel safe in their homes. Because this issue is everywhere. Right here in New Hampshire, in Concord, in Hopkinton, Warner and Bow. All around us. Right now. There are too many men who commit domestic violence. There are too many men who will stand by and do nothing about this problem.

What are you wearing?

What I’m wearing doesn’t matter much, but, I’ll be wearing heels and walking slowly. But if you must know, I’ll be wearing shiny red pumps!

Kevin Twombly

What team are you on?

Grace Capital Church

Why are you walking?

I walk because I’ve heard too many stories and seen the heartache firsthand of family and friends – women I love dearly – who have been victimized by men who lack the virtue of what it means to be men. I walk because I’m sick and tired of the stories I hear from so many women who have been taken advantage of. I walk because this nonsense needs to end. And if walking a mile (or two) in bright red stilettos will help support and speak “NO MORE” to our great city, then I’m happy to do it. Too many women I love have been hurt and I’m tired of that being part of their story.

What are you wearing?

Bright red stilettos, size 11-wide. A friend that signed up has a business meeting that night so, rather than walk one-mile, I’m backing the supporters of my friend and walking his mile as well.

Bill Hauser

What team are you on?

Concordia Cloppers (Concordia Lutheran Church)

Why are you walking?

I am walking to show support to women, and other victims of domestic violence, and to raise awareness among the community. This issue, like homelessness and so many others, is one that far too often is not in people’s radar – until it directly affects them.

What are you wearing?

My heels of choice are black spikes with pink polka dots, with shocking-pink socks!

Jeremy Woodward

What team are you on?

Jeremy’s Bootcamp

Why are you walking?

All of us, in some way, have been affected by domestic violence or sexual assault. It shouldn’t exist in our community and this is our contribution to making it non-existent.

What are you wearing?

Workout gear, of course!

Dana Dexter

What team are you on?

Pumps on Patrol

Why are you walking?

I am walking because being part of the police department, I have seen firsthand the effects of domestic and sexual violence. This is just one way I can help these victims and raise awareness of a problem that crosses all race, ethnic and socioeconomic lines.

What are you wearing?

I would share my shoe, but there are two reasons why I can’t: 1. The more money I raise, the higher my shoe goes. 2. That there is a buzz about what people think I will do and I want to keep that conversation going.

Jessica Fogg Livingston